Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
I still haven't decided what I think about this, but here's an excellent -- and fair minded -- Glenn Thrush piece in Politico wondering why, exactly, Team Obama is so thrilled with the prospect of facing Newt Gingrich in the fall.
Here's the premise:
Most of those around President Barack Obama would still prefer to take on Gingrich rather than the better funded and organized Mitt Romney. But if Romney is a conventional enemy, Gingrich poses an asymmetrical threat: He’s simply a more dangerous, talented and unpredictable political actor than Romney.
“Romney is playing not to lose and Newt thinks he has nothing to lose,” says Phil Singer, a former adviser to Hillary Clinton in 2008. “He’s facile enough to sound convincing on almost anything and has the gift of framing complex issues in their simplest terms… He’s more dangerous as a surrogate than a candidate, but he’s still dangerous.”
Hmmm. Below, Diane highlights the comparisons that Rudi Giuliani made this morning on MSNBC, but this piece goes a little further, and lists the four basic ways that a Gingrich candidacy might be the worst thing to happen to Barack Obama, including what a lot of folks think is Newt's biggest liability, his mouth:
Despite his reputation as an unfiltered hothead, his performances in debates — take last night’s scrum in Iowa — have been cool, effective and deft on defense. When Michele Bachmann savaged him on Freddie Mac, he shot back, “I have never once changed my positions because of any kind of payment.” When Rick Santorum challenged him on his conservative credentials, he hopped in the GOP way-back machine: “I think on the conservative thing, it’s sort of laughable to suggest that somebody who campaigned with Ronald Reagan and with Jack Kemp and has had a 30-year record of conservatism is somehow not a conservative.”
Obama has never faced an opponent with such a gift for phrase-making and memorable, bumper-sticker vitriol beloved by talk radio.
A Gingrich sampler: Obama is “the most radical president in American history.”
“Obama’s alliance with big labor and the left as a “secular-socialist machine.”
The “elitist” president’s Windy City re-election organization as an extension of a “Chicago” machine run from the West Wing out of touch with regular America.
“No one’s going to hit Obama harder than Newt, and isn’t that what we want our guy to do?” asks one senior Republican strategist active in Senate campaigns — and no fan of the former speaker’s. “I think the Democrats should have a healthy dose of fear for Gingrich. You can’t underestimate this guy, he’s gone from disgraced speaker - a joke really - to a legitimate front runner.”
It's worth looking at the whole, balanced, thing. But what strikes me is this: back about a million years ago, when it looked like a Romney v. Perry primary, I wondered aloud if this wasn't some kind of Bush v. Reagan in 1980 replay -- a polished establishment aristocrat running against a shoot-from-the-hip western governor.
It may still be that kind of race. But with an unlikely figure playing the other guy.
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May '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
“No one’s going to hit Obama harder than Newt, and isn’t that what we want our guy to do?”
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Romney hits like a gurl!
Sep '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
Rob I think Newt is our version of 2 Ton Tony Galento (as much as that's a stretch of an analogy to the point of snapping the waistband) and I say (as of today, I may change my mind tomorrow am) that, right now, he seems to have the best bullet proof vest for the Chicago mob that's about to descend upon him.
I'm a natural contrarian and I start to empathize with unjustified pile ons and that's what this one is starting to smell like. Right now our guy is paunchy, erratic and scares the elites but he also packs the hardest punch.
Right now, I think Mitt's got a glass jaw in the general and Newt has the puncher's chance. And if Obama wants to stick his chin way in the air and channel his inner Carter, then I like the guy with the hardest punch.
Sep '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
I'm convinced, especially after the onslaught that Gingrich has taken from the Sununus of the world especially, that their opposition to him has more to do with either getting even for him being correct about their past sins ("read my lips"), or that he threatens their chosen livelihood, which is an acceptance of big government but a more efficient version of big government.
It probably is the former more than the latter, but other than Ron Paul, Gingrich is probably the only one of any magnitude who actually believes in individual liberty and can articulate it well. That is why he was winning. It is only because the recent onslaught sowing seeds of doubt has he started to slip. If Romney were doing the same things rhetorically as Gingrich is right now, he would be leading by over 50% among Republicans. He's basically too nice and many of us see that as a problem, a la McCain who refused to even pronounce Obama's middle name.
May '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
What makes Newt so tempting is that he might have "just the right amount of crazy." Manics (or whatever) like him can be almost supernatural in their ability to pull off the impossible, to move heaven and earth. Then once heaven and earth are moved, his chief of staff needs to sprinkle Ritalin on his cornflakes, and we'll be in business.
If he's to pull it off, the trick will be self-awareness. His joke last night -- "I'm editing, don't want to be zany" -- was hilarious, but hopefully he also understands the need.
That, and he needs to take Paul Ryan's hand like Mitt has.
Sep '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
And Newt's easy money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will retreat in the rear view mirror when Newt gets stem wound about that mountain of mullah that Acorn hauled in the last general election through those funny websites with the Visa and Mastercard security codes turned off.
Look, everyone thought this was a street fight and that's why all the A-listers sat it out. The B side crooners from the record label all have flaws. Right now the weeble warbles but he's not falling down.
Sep '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
That, and he needs to take Paul Ryan's hand like Mitt has.
Agreed, right now I'm likin' me the crazy.
Mar '11
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
Why does everyone keep bringing up who Obama Wants To Run Against/Is Afraid to Run Against? Seriously. This is not a man who has actually demonstrated keen judgement in other areas or in any area really. Why in the world do conservative pundits continue to think that his opinion here has any particular value?
Edited on Dec 16, 2011 at 5:29pmSep '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
Roberto: Why in the world do conservative pundits continue to think that his opinion here has any particular value? · Dec 16 at 5:27pm
Edited on Dec 16 at 05:29 pm
Because he's an over confident, over paid, over golfed over flown totus toting unfanned drone who's had the good fortune to have most of his real opponents thrown off the ballot (I read David Freddoso's book) and I think Bill's stroking his chin in the background thinking he can put the shiv back in Barry as payback for 2008 by chatting up his old nemesis the Newtster.
And Carter thought Reagan was going to be a cake walk, so the historical parallels are just too rich to resist. I don't think Mitt's up to this kind of street fight. And if there's one thing I give Rudy Guiliani credit for its being able to smell the smashed windows of a street brawl and pick the winning side.
Sep '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
Then once heaven and earth are moved, his chief of staff needs to sprinkle Ritalin on his cornflakes, and we'll be in business.
We might have to get restraining orders as well, but I'm confident the judiciary will be accommodating.
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
What Pseudo said. Thank you. That is all.
Sep '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
You want an Apple, you put up with Steve Jobs. You want a BlackBerry,......
Sep '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
Newt kicked Bill Clinton's rear end up and down Pennsylvania Avenue. Obama is no Bill Clinton. Remember, Clinton opposed both the balanced budget and welfare reform at first.
Jun '11
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
Newt has had a wonderful run of experiences and is hungry as hell to get this economic idiot out of office,
Its a more stark difference in my view between Obama and Newt than between Mitt and Obama.
Sep '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
Terrell David: Newt has had a wonderful run of experiences and is hungry as hell to get this economic idiot out of office,
Its a more stark difference in my view between Obama and Newt than between Mitt and Obama. · Dec 16 at 6:01pm
Newt's Gonna Fly Now
Mar '11
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
Pseudodionysius
Roberto: Why in the world do conservative pundits continue to think that his opinion here has any particular value? · Dec 16 at 5:27pm
Edited on Dec 16 at 05:29 pm
And Carter thought Reagan was going to be a cake walk, so the historical parallels are just too rich to resist. · Dec 16 at 5:36pm
Hah, for this alone I will never doubt you again.
Oct '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
Could Newt's other strength be that he presents a starker contrast between himself and Obama? The benefit being that it makes Obama look more like the Leftist that he is, a perception voters won't have if Romney is the nominee, and so tap into the independents who don't like Obama.
I guess the question I'm thinking of is how disillusioned are the independents and are we over- or underestimating their willingness to drop him next year? I think I smell a post coming on...
Jul '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
Pseudodionysius
Terrell David: Newt has had a wonderful run of experiences and is hungry as hell to get this economic idiot out of office,
Its a more stark difference in my view between Obama and Newt than between Mitt and Obama. · Dec 16 at 6:01pm
Newt's Gonna Fly Now · Dec 16 at 6:05pm
I can see the video now:
Instead of running through the streets of Philly, the video is of Newt walking the Halls of Congress and White House, instead of one armed push-ups Newt's practicing signing legislation and vetoes with one hand, instead of punching a heavy bag Newt's debating Obama....
Sep '10
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
The benefit being that it makes Obama look more like the Leftist that he is,
And Newt can remind everyone endlessly that he's no Hillary, because back when he worked with Bill.....
Aug '11
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
Pseudodionysius
Roberto: Why in the world do conservative pundits continue to think that his opinion here has any particular value? · Dec 16 at 5:27pm
Edited on Dec 16 at 05:29 pm
Because he's an over confident, over paid, over golfed over flown totus toting unfanned drone who's had the good fortune to have most of his real opponents thrown off the ballot (I read David Freddoso's book) and I think Bill's stroking his chin in the background thinking he can put the shiv back in Barry as payback for 2008 by chatting up his old nemesis the Newtster.
And Carter thought Reagan was going to be a cake walk, so the historical parallels are just too rich to resist. I don't think Mitt's up to this kind of street fight. And if there's one thing I give Rudy Guiliani credit for its being able to smell the smashed windows of a street brawl and pick the winning side. · Dec 16 at 5:36pm
I agree on all points. I'm also suspicious of this "we are eager to run against Newt" mantra. It may just be some psych business at play.
Apr '11
Re: Why Obama Wants to Run Against Newt, and Why He's Wrong
A bit from Mark Steyn today:
"In 2007 John Kerry found himself booked for a debate with Gingrich on climate change and had his speechwriters prepare some boilerplate about Newt’s “marching in lockstep with the climate-change deniers.” Unfortunately for him, the former Speaker spoke first and announced that man-made global warming was a real threat that we needed to address “very actively.” He praised as “a very interesting read” Kerry’s unreadable book on the subject, and for good measure added that he was “very worried about polar bears” because “my name ‘Newt’ actually comes from the Danish ‘Knut,’ and there’s been a major crisis in Germany over a polar bear named ‘Knut.’” Kerry abandoned his prescripted attack on Gingrich, hailed his candor, and put his arm around him."
Edited on Dec 16, 2011 at 6:35pm